ECO B06 · Modern Defense

Modern Defense: Norwegian Defense

1. e4 g6 2. d4 Nf6

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White to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

3. e5+0.93

White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Modern Defense: Norwegian Defense (B06), reached after 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Nf6, Stockfish 18 recommends 3. e5 for White. White is clearly better (+0.93).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.933. e5 Nh5 4. Nc3 d6 5. Be3 dxe5 6. dxe5 Qxd1+ 7. Rxd1 c6
  2. +0.603. Nc3 d6 4. Be3 Bg7 5. Qd2 O-O 6. O-O-O c6 7. Bh6 b5
  3. +0.473. Bd3 Bg7 4. Nf3 d6 5. O-O O-O 6. Re1 c5 7. dxc5 dxc5

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Modern Defense: Norwegian Defense?
After 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Nf6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3. e5 for White, continuing Nh5 4. Nc3 d6 5. Be3 dxe5 6. dxe5 Qxd1+ 7. Rxd1 c6. White is clearly better (+0.93). The next best moves are 3. Nc3 (+0.60) and 3. Bd3 (+0.47).
Is the Modern Defense: Norwegian Defense a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.93: white is clearly better. Evaluations this early in the game are small, so practical results depend far more on knowing the plans and typical structures than on the engine's number.
What is the ECO code of the Modern Defense: Norwegian Defense?
B06. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; B is the volume for semi-open games (other than the French).

Opening names from the Lichess opening book (CC0). Pieces by Colin M.L. Burnett (GPLv2+).